Frozen embryo babies healthier

New research has indicated that IVF babies born from frozen embryos are heavier and result in longer pregnancies than those born from fresh embryos.

The findings from a study carried out at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London were presented at the British Fertility Society annual meeting.

The researchers acknowledge the reasons behind the findings remain unclear and that further research is needed but they say that transferring frozen embryos may lead to healthier babies.

For the study the research team measured the weight and length of gestation of 384 babies born after fresh embryo transfer and 108 born after frozen embryo transfer. All were single births.

The centre’s deputy head Suzanne Cawood, who led the research, the findings were important because prematurity and low birthweight were both risk factors for poorer health in later life.

She said: “This means that resulting babies may potentially be healthier if frozen embryos are transferred rather than fresh embryos.

“The reasons behind these findings are not yet fully understood, but one possibility may be that there is a difference in the uterine environment between fresh cycles, when embryos are transferred soon after the eggs have been collected, compared to frozen cycles when the uterus has not been stimulated in the days before transfer.”

Infertility Network UK chief executive Clare Lewis-Jones said: “These initial findings, if proved accurate following further research, will give the medical profession more evidence to encourage patients to accept single embryo transfer, which reduces the risks of multiple births to both mother and babies.”